Annual Report 2019
Case study:
spin-out business We encourage and support the commercialisation of research for the benefit of society and the wider economy. One such company founded in November 2018, Magnitude Biosciences, provides an automated service to find healthspan extending drugs faster and more cost effectively than current approaches, using novel technology. Magnitude Biosciences assists the ageing research industry and academic researchers in testing compounds, such as food additives and drugs, to understand how they slow down or accelerate the ageing process. Carrying out ageing research can be challenging because large sample sizes are required to capture the inherent variability in ageing, with the process taking many years to yield results. To tackle this, Magnitude Biosciences tests on nematode worms, called C. elegans, which are tubular-like organisms just about visible to the human eye without magnification. They are an established tool in ageing research due to their short lifespan (two to three weeks) and their size, which allows large quantities to be tested over relatively short study periods. The company has developed an innovative ‘healthspan machine’, which uses small, low cost computers each linked to a camera, to monitor large numbers of nematodes under multiple conditions. Magnitude Biosciences received £150,000 investment from Saker Capital and the North East Innovation Fund, supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and managed by Northstar Ventures. Since the beginning of 2019, Magnitude has been delivering customer contracts, expanding facilities, and meeting potential customers around the world. At the same time, an exciting new phase of expansion is being planned to ensure that even more research labs can tap into the productivity and repeatability benefits that Magnitude Biosciences brings.
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Future plans As we move further into the ten year Strategy period we will continue to establish critical mass across the University, with significant growth planned in Mathematical Sciences, Computer Science, Durham University Business School, Law and Engineering. We understand the transformational nature of interdisciplinary research and during 2019/20 will review our current set of collaborative University Research Institutes, to ensure that they are fit-for-purpose and properly resourced. We will look to build on our contribution to the UN SDGs further with a new Global Strategy which incorporates the SDGs, and with a new high-level group in the University who will take responsibility in order to ensure the SDGs remain a priority for us as an institution. The 2019/20 academic year will be key to the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) preparations. A mock exercise in 2019 covering publications, impact and research environment, demonstrated that our preparations are significantly further ahead than in previous exercises. It did however highlight several areas requiring extra attention and the relevant academic departments have actioned these throughout summer 2019. A draft submission, with a full and complete assessment of all areas and all ancillary documentation will be conducted. Results of this exercise, due in June 2020, will be accompanied by an analysis of growth across the sector and modelling looking at case study re-profiling (up and down) and the effect on potential income. Alongside finalisation of submission, work will continue on improving quality; publication mentoring, impact development and workshops, supported by new initiatives such as the REF publication discovery tool. Key Performance Indicators
Current (2018/19)
Target (2026/27)
Citations per academic staff member
3rd in the UK (QS rankings)
Top three in the UK
UK research assessment exercises
9 of 23 units of assessment in top third of Russell Group in 2015 (39% of submission)
All units in Russell Group top third
PhD students per academic staff member
1.58 (2017/18)
2 per academic FTE
Related Risks Risk
Key Controls
Failure to secure new or maintain/ grow existing research grant and contract funding
• Lobbying (via the Russell Group) to maintain Government funding of UK Research and Innovation • Diversification of research income streams • Research facilitation function • Conference, travel and seminar support • Research pricing policies • Research incentives • Improved PhD and postdoctoral funding